Organisations Leaving Stonewall: The List

[Barracker]

Thought it would be handy to keep a running list here of organisations who have done 'budget reviews' or similar and have subsequently decided that Stonewall are 'not value for money'.

EHRC
ACAS
House of Commons
DVLA
Dorset Police
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Do feel free to update the thread as more join the exodus.

Just checked the archive list - it's dated 2015 so well out of date. I wonder why they didn't produce an updated version in the intervening years.

Southamptom Solent University is not a member and hasn't been for the period covered in the FOI:

Solent University can confirm that it has not made any applications or payments to Stonewall for the periods stated above. Therefore, the answers to the above questions are NIL.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_212#incoming-1740087

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue haven't been members since 2019:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725270/response/1737768/attach/html/4/FoI2021077%20response.docx.html

Maritime and Coastguard Agency is interesting - it hasn't made an application in its own right to SW because it's covered by the Dept. of Transport. It's listed on SW but I'm uncertain about its status.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/724369/response/1738319/attach/html/2/FOI%203631.doc.html

Oxleas Foundation Trust says it's not a SW Diversity Champion:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_588#incoming-1732786

Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust does not intend to renew its membership:

At this current time with the pressures of the membership of any Stonewall scheme in the pandemic we do not feel that renewing our future, and if so which membership with Stonewall would be a justifiable use of Public Funding.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725837/response/1735298/attach/html/2/FOI%202829%20Response%20Letter.pdf.html

@CardinalLolzy good idea, see you over there!

Warwickshire County Council
Not applicable. Warwickshire County Council did not make any applications during 2019 or 2020 to be a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

Q6 Whether you intend to continue your membership of any Stonewall scheme in the future, and if so which.
Not applicable. Warwickshire County Council does not hold a Stonewall membership.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/723973/response/1722049/attach/html/2/Response%20all%20information%20to%20be%20supplied.pdf.html

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has not been a member since 2018 and their answer to Q6 is No, we have no intention of [SW] membership.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725274/response/1727737/attach/html/3/Final%20Response%20FOI4239.pdf.html

NHS Digital says We do not currently have any plans to continue our Stonewall membership.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725502/response/1737841/attach/html/3/NIC%20434703%20H5B6M.pdf.html

Powys Teaching Health Board/Bwrdd lechyd Addysgu Powys say it isn't currently (to be fair they haven't answered some questions clearly) and hasn't been but
PTHB may explore options to join the Stonewall membership or another scheme in the future once the pressures of the pandemic have eased.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/727851/response/1743339/attach/html/2/FINAL%20Response%20to%20requestor%20FOI%20058.pdf.html

Monmouthshire County Council is pretty unclear and didn't really answer the questions as posed but unless they're being disingenuous they're not SW members nor Diversity Champions:

We did not make an application to Stonewall in 2019 or 2020. There
has been no contact with Stonewall.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_778#incoming-1754944

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is not a SW member or Diversity Champion:

The trust is not currently a member of Stonewall and has no plans to be so in the foreseeable future. The trust undertakes a range of actions, accreditations and memberships to support LGBT+ staff, patients and visitors…

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/726044/response/1733907/attach/html/2/FOI%205902%20Response.pdf.html

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham don't describe any association with SW.
Whether you intend to continue your membership of any Stonewall scheme in the future, and if so which.
N/A

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/724719/response/1744899/attach/html/2/Response%20all%20information%20to%20be%20supplied.pdf.html

North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust hasn't provided specific answers but they deny applying to the Diversity Champion scheme in 2019 or 2020. And Q6 is
The Trust does not intend to submit to the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, but links are kept open.

So - overall, they're not stating they are:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/726719/response/1730772/attach/html/3/2021.02.22%20Response%20letter%20FOI.21.046.pdf.html

Suffolk Constabulary says it's made no applications and unless they're being unclear, it looks like they're not current members/champions. (My reservations are because some organisations say that they didn't apply because it's a rolling membership on payment of a fee.
Q6
Suffolk Constabulary has made no decisions regarding the future use of Stonewal at this time.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/724465/response/1734799/attach/html/4/FOI%20000396%2021.pdf.html

Birmingham City Council hasn't made an application but Q6 answer indicates it's actively pursuing (?) it so it shouldn't be on that list (until such time as it pays up, presumably):

We do not have a membership to continue but are currently in the process of accessing the Diversity Champions Programme and will be evaluating any benefits of additional programmes.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/724618/response/1732678/attach/html/2/Response%20all%20information%20to%20be%20supplied.pdf.html

Lewisham Homes hasn't been a member 2019 2020 as they'd considered renewing membership but didn't go ahead with it. Q6 says: no decisions have been made on membership to Stonewall Overall, shouldn't be on a current list.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725537/response/1740772/attach/html/19/8582417%20FOI%20reply%20letter.pdf.html

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service - mostly says it doesn't hold any information until it gets to the money question (Q6) for which it says no If this is accurate, and LFRS isn't being unclear, then it shouldn't be on the list.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_404#incoming-1721359

Transport for London Q6

Whether you intend to continue your membership of any Stonewall scheme in the future, and if so which.

Not at present – we have discussed this with Outbound, our internal LGBT network and they agreed. We are looking together at which other organisation could provide best value for public money.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_29#incoming-1737374

Sanctuary Housing seems to be Sanctuary (Scotland) and says it didn't apply in 2019 or 2020

Q6: Sanctuary Scotland does not intend to take out membership

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725218/response/1735246/attach/html/3/FOISA%20request.pdf.html

Thurrock Council
Q6: Not currently members nor plan to be Stonewall members in the near future.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_27#incoming-1733180

Are there other organisations supporting LGBT rights in the workplace- so that if an organisations leaves Stonewall they can get support/advice/show commitment to LGBT rights in a different way?
I do think a lot of what Stonewall represents is good and don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater

University of Bedfordshire states: In response to your FOI request, we do not have dealings with Stonewall.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725256/response/1775334/attach/html/3/FOI%20U.Winfield.pdf.html

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust says that they made no applications under Q1 and Q6 is n/a

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/725825/response/1741867/attach/html/3/FOI%20Response%20D9913.pdf.html

Neath Port Talbot Council didn't give separate answers but shouldn't be on the list:

The questions below are not applicable as the Council has never made an application to be a “Stonewall Diversity Champion” or to be included on Stonewall’s “Workplace Equality Index.'' The Council has neither had 'any other communication' from Stonewall during the stated period

www.whatdotheyknow.com/search/stonewall%20status:successful/all?page=9&query=stonewall+status%3Asuccessful

@CrumpetyTea

Are there other organisations supporting LGBT rights in the workplace- so that if an organisations leaves Stonewall they can get support/advice/show commitment to LGBT rights in a different way? I do think a lot of what Stonewall represents is good and don't want to throw out the baby with the bathwater

A number of the FOIs name other groups with which they're involved.

NB: It's MTR Crossrail on the Sex Matters List but as there's a recent name change it seems to be Crossrail Limited tho' it would be helpful if someone could also look at that.

Crossrail Limited: I can confirm that Crossrail Ltd. has had no dealings with Stonewall

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_195#incoming-1737408

North Lanarkshire Council: Having investigated, I can advise that while North Lanarkshire Council used to be a Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champion, we have not renewed our membership since 2018.

Q6: There are no current plans.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_202#incoming-1733449

Newham College of Further Education: Further to your email below sent to our Principal, I confirm that we have not renewed our membership.

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/information_about_your_dealings_372#incoming-1728406

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I will say that some of the information is not well laid out in general. Some of the memberships last for 3 years so there can be responses like this:
Wheatley Group did not make an application to become a Stonewall Diversity Champion in 2019 or 2020. The Group’s Diversity Champion Membership was renewed in November 2018 until September 2021. This membership allows Wheatley Group to use the Diversity Champion logo but does not require Wheatley Group to disclose any information to Stonewall.
So, in some ways, it's unclear if some organisations are playing word games.

No wonder they took their list down. Stonewall have obviously been exaggerating who's on it for years!

Is it more a "anyone that's ever been on our list" list? You'd think they'd have an administrator to keep that bang up to date with all the additions (well, up to 2019 anyway)

It certainly seems to be a diverse list: companies who are DC, companies who used to be DC, companies who might be surprised to learn that they are still DC...

The links upthread from when Stonewall used to do good work are quite depressing. They really did use to be a force for good. It’s sad.

I guess barefaced denial of reality is the only trick they've got?

At least they're consistent, I suppose.

Could somebody with a Twitter account let Sex Matters know, please? They were' asking people to go through the FOIAs and notify them but I've done these here.

Is it more a "anyone that's ever been on our list" list?

Plus some who never have?

No wonder Stonewall have been so touchy and defensive!

I am beginning to feel anxious in case Stonewall run out of money before Allison Bailey can sue them.

Maybe it is a marketing scheme, like those old book clubs - they send you a book, then they send you an invoice for the book, then you find you have signed up for 3 books a month for all eternity.

My list of those that should be cut (NB: I'm concerned about how up-to-date Sex Matters 's list is):

Southampton Solent University

Oxleas Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue

Warwickshire County Council

Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

NHS Digital

Powys Teaching Health Board/Bwrdd lechyd Addysgu Powys

Monmouthshire County Council

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham

North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Suffolk Constabulary

Birmingham City Council

Lewisham Homes

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service

Transport for London

Sanctuary Housing seems to be Sanctuary (Scotland)

Thurrock Council

University of Bedfordshire

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Trust

Neath Port Talbot Council

MTR Crossrail on the Sex Matters List but as there's a recent name change it seems to be Crossrail Limited

North Lanarkshire Council

WcC?

Wow. Wasn't it them who had a very erm interesting educational program?

That's a turn around and a half

Great work @EmbarrassingAdmissions

I have it on good authority that Sex Matters have recently been made aware of those additions.

I’ll let Barracker have the honour of updating our list here.